Several representatives of The Papal Foundation are making a pilgrimage to Rome from the United States and Canada, focusing on furthering support for the poor and advancing the Church’s mission worldwide, with a central meeting with Pope Leo XIV.
A Catholic not-for-profit hospital in Singapore expands its surgical and critical care capacity with the opening of a new day surgery centre and upgraded intensive care facilities.
A series of initiatives will be held in the Kingdom of Bahrain to commemorate the 800th anniversary of St Francis of Assisi's death. A statement from the Embassy of Italy in Manama, in collaboration with "This is Bahrain", reveals the intention to underscore “a commitment to dialogue, coexistence, and respect for diversity.”
Father Rifat Badar, a Jordanian priest with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, reflects on the significance and indications given by Cardinal Pizzaballa in his pastoral letter addressed to the Patriarchate, which spans several geographic locations, including Jordan, Palestine, Israel, and Cyprus.
Calling for disarmament and multilateral engagement, the Holy See warns that nuclear deterrence, arsenal modernisation, and AI-driven military systems are increasing the danger of catastrophic miscalculation.
Pope Leo XIV releases his prayer intention for the month of May, and invites Catholics to pray that everyone might have food, as he highlights how millions of brothers and sisters continue to suffer from hunger while so much food is wasted.
In Kinshasa, the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus carry out a crucial mission: restoring the dignity of people affected by HIV/AIDS. This illness is still a profoundly painful reality that intimately wounds many lives.
Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, director of a U.S. organization working to end the death penalty, accompanies several Bishops in their exploration of the connections between the legacy of racism in the United States and its impacts on the criminal legal system today.
The Vatican Supervisory and Financial Information Authority (ASIF) publishes its 2025 Annual Report, confirming the robustness of the Vatican’s oversight system in preventing and combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The Report also highlights strengthened relations with counterparties and key international bodies.
During a national prayer for peace bringing together Christian leaders in Dubai, the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, said, “Peace cannot be simply a human construct; it is a gift from God, to be sought, welcomed, nurtured, and spread in society through our good relationships.”
Meeting with a delegation of the German Archdiocese of Cologne, Pope Leo XIV encourages the Church in all countries to offer mutual support for other dioceses and to bear witness to the truth in charity.
As he accepts the ‘Blessed are the Peacemakers’ award from the Catholic Theological Union, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago warns that “conflicts mediated through screens” risk reducing human lives to “data points rather than persons.”
Pope Leo XIV holds a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council, focusing on the situation in the Middle East, with particular attention to the West Bank and the condition of Christians in southern Lebanon, and also reflecting on his recent Apostolic Journey to Africa.
The Dicastery for the Service of Charity is supporting an initiative by the charitable organisation “Cross Catholic Outreach” aimed at assisting children affected by armed conflict. The Pope’s vehicle will travel across the United States to draw attention to the reality faced by war victims, while also offering moments of prayer and reflection.
The statistics are concerning. According to UN agencies, global water resources face significant challenges, including in Africa, where approximately 400 million people—almost a third of the continent’s 1.4 billion population—lack access to basic drinking water services. UNICEF reports that one in three Africans is affected by water scarcity, with the situation being especially severe in rural areas.
Following the launch of an initiative promoted by the Dicastery for the Service of Charity to assist children affected by war, the President of Cross Catholic Outreach reflects on the charitable organization’s 25 years of service to the poor and vulnerable, and on its “Road Trip for Hope” project involving a popemobile donated by the Dicastery itself on behalf of the Pope.
The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life release a document titled “Integral Ecology in the Life of the Family,” offering guidelines for families related to the care for creation and human life.
Meeting in Cyprus for their Spring Plenary Assembly, the bishops of the European Union call for renewed diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to end violence in the Middle East and beyond, echoing Pope Leo XIV’s appeal for dialogue and reconciliation.
As Colombia’s southwestern region endures an uptick in violent attacks, Pope Leo XIV urges everyone to reject any form of violence and prays for the many victims.
During his weekly General Audience, Pope Leo XIV recalls various highlights from his recent Apostolic Journey to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea from April 13 to 23.